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Toxicodendron radicans
This plant, which can cause a burning rash, can take several different forms. As a climbing vine it has numerous "hairs" that help it cling to trees and structures. As a small tree or shrub it can grow up to 1.5 meters in height, but there are exceptional specimens that are larger. As a trailing vine it is often found as an understory plant in open forests and along paths. It has three leaves arranged in the pattern you see in the photo.
Open forests and especially in disturbed locations, such as along paths.
There are numerous sayings about this plant which help to identify it, such as "Hairy vine; no friend of mine"' or "Leaves of three; let it be!" For most people touching the plant will cause a contact dermititis that is extremely irritating and may cause reddening of skin and blistering. The defensive mechanism is urushiol which the plant produces and which quickly binds to the skin. I've never been bothered by this plant, despite often working in it. My sister, on the other hand, was very sensitive to it and could probably pick up urushiol off from clothing that brushed up against it or even pets.
Spotted on Aug 16, 2012
Submitted on Aug 16, 2012
7 Comments
Boy, I loathe trimming my mango trees! However, I have no problem eating mangos! You are lucky!
Larry, Interesting. Both poison ivy and mango belong to the same family (Anacardiaceae). I've picked some mango when traveling without realizing that it produced urushiol, but never had any problems with it. I guess I'm one of the few lucky ones that seems to be relatively insensitive to it.
Nice Gordon. I would like to add that Mango trees also produce urushiol!
Yes, it is a rather nasty plant and common east of the Rocky Mountains, especially since the 1700s when widespread disturbance began occurring in our forests. I believe that it has been imported to Europe in places (certainly not deliberately, I hope), but it is very rare there. It can be hard to ID since it takes on so many forms. It's thought that exposure to the plant may increase sensitivity to it in future exposures.
We have lots of the in our woods & my husband is very susceptible - an encounter with poison oak or ivy will give him a horrible itchy rash all over his body that can last for 2 or 3 weeks.
wow,great spotting and great info,i'am glad that we dont have this one in europe,if i read correctly the wiki link about Toxicodendron radicans,it's a american species
Nice spotting and terrific info.!